If, as the Scotsman newspaper claims, Jim Diamond is "Scotland's answer to Ray Charles" then Elvis Presley was America's George Formby! The 52-year-old Glasgow-born singer shot to fame in 1983 with I Won't Let You Down which sold more than a million copies.

He has a fine pedigree having worked with blues legends such as Alexis Korner and courted popularity with his theme song for the long gone hit TV series, Boon. But to place him in the same league as Ray Charles is surely Scots spin.

A much-loved regular with audiences at The Shed, Brawby, Jim has many talents and injects passion into his work. But this is not his best album despite its ten original songs. Diamond doesn't sparkle this time.

Updated: 08:48 Thursday, April 07, 2005